Rui Hachimura reveals Yudai Baba protected him from delinquents in junior high

NBA star Rui Hachimura recently shared personal anecdotes regarding his youth in Toyama, Japan, during an appearance on the television program ‘Shabekuri 007’. Hachimura revealed that during his first year of junior high school, his reputation as a talented athlete made him a target for local delinquent groups and motorcycle gangs (bosozoku).

Hachimura recalled being ambushed and threatened after school when he initially intended to join no school clubs. He credited Yudai Baba, a fellow professional basketball player and current member of the Japanese national team, with intervening and protecting him from these groups. At the time, Baba was a third-year student at the same school.

Additionally, Hachimura credited a former coach for his entry into basketball. While school authorities initially discouraged his participation in sports, the coach actively protected him and encouraged his athletic development. Both Hachimura and Baba are now key figures in the Japanese national team as they prepare for the FIBA 2027 World Cup Asian Qualifiers.